Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout | Rogue Ales

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I can’t Adam and beli-Eve that I haven’t reviewed this classic and highly lauded Oatmeal Stout by Rogue (one of my... well, not favourite brewers but they’re definitely up there in my top 50). The funny part is that I’ve drunk so many beers now I sometimes think I’ve had a beer before and I recommend it to people without realising that in fact I haven’t actually had it before - this is one of those beers. I could have sworn I reviewed it and gave it an 8/10 or something along those lines. Oh well, I love Oatmeal Stouts, so I’ll probably end up giving it an 8/10 anyhow. I don’t get the Shakespeare reference, was he partial to Oatmeal Stouts? I don’t even think the style existed in his time. Whatevs.

Poured from a 650ml bomber bottle into a nonic pint.

A: Straight off the mark it looks viscous - like old engine oil (the real thing, not the brew by Harviestoun... which used to be more viscous back in the day when it was 9% ABV!). Deep black body with a mocha-coloured head that recedes leaving a thin lace ring... oh well, average head but looks syrupy, that’s all that matters. 8/10.

S: Cheeky fruity hop notes mingle with a chocolate and coffee combo that never gets old - I love a good Stout! Earthy red coffee cherry character with a hint cigar tobacco sweetness. Not quite world-class but bloody moreish nonetheless. Moreish/10... which I guess translates to: 8/10.

T: Just an excellent, easy-drinking Oatmeal Stout. Nothing extraordinary - just solid and dependable, a Land Rover of Stouts this is [I’ll take a LR over a Jeep any day of the week]. Flavours are similar to the above with notes of: Earthy/floral hops, chocolate, coffee, and a hint of tobacco leaf and a whisper of smoke. Aftertaste has a lingering bitterness, it’s not sharp but it does mar the flavour just a touch. 8/10.

M: Medium, almost heavy bodied with a soft/dense carbonation. Nowhere near Founders in stature and body, however it’s got enough heft to be considered a real Oatmeal Stout... I do wonder how Founders get so much body in their beers... but I digress. 7/10.

D: After the average-at-best-but-really-that’s-just-a-nice-way-of-saying-crap Milk Stout by Brouhaha it’s comforting to drink an Oatmeal Stout that ticks all the boxes - it’s not quite as good as Rogue’s own Chocolate Stout (I do quite like that one!), this is just good, a good example of the style, quite acceptable and drinkable, tasty even. So there. What where? There? There. 8/10.

Food match: In keeping with the Shakespeare theme: Roasted game meats n’ stuff.

T: What a wonderful beer. Rich cocoa and chocolate with a surprising note of peanuts. Leafy and citric hop notes stay around yet stay subtle. Wood smoke and sherry also make an appearance. Roasted caramel and barley are wonderful balancing. What a delectable stout.

Goodness, this is a bizarre one. A splash of saccharine sweetness blasts the tongue before it's washed away by this bizarre, almost indescribable bitterness, with pepper sprinkled in on the finish. Far, far from the worst of the type, but, honestly, the taste is almost identical to Rhinelander's Chocolate Bunny, with a bit of pepper sprinkled in. And Chocolate Bunny is cheaper!